Sorry, this episode is only available to Registered Users

Do Twins Live Longer Than Us?

Favorite

Are you a twin? If yes, do you know that being a twin can make you live longer? According to a study at University of Washington, scientists analyzed over 2,900 sets of same-sex twins born between 1870 to 1900 listed in the Danish Twin Registry, and compared their lifespans to the rest of the Danish population. The results showed that mostly male identical twins lived longer. Studies also showed that a close social connection can play a significant role as well.

No matter what the gender is, identical twins can live longer than fraternal twins, while fraternal twins can live longer than the general population. David Sharrow, a researcher at the University of Washington stated, “There is benefit to having someone who is socially close to you who is looking out for you. They may provide material or emotional support that lead to better longevity outcomes.” In addition, a close social connection or bond such as having a twin, a spouse or a close friend can help you be active physically and emotionally, stop bad habits, and take care of you when you’re sick. Those things could explain how the twins can live longer, because of the strong support system.

Currently, the researchers are hoping to do a similar study as the ones they did on Danish people on the twins living today.